Speedometer



Aug. 10 ,1926. 2,595,363

"r. J. SMULSKi SPEEDOMETER I Filed Feb. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1" I I Eiuiii W 1 \7/7 ea' a -f1/ Patented Aug. 10, 1926 UNITED ST TES PATENT orrics.

THEODORE J. SI'JIULSKI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MILEOMETER COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SPEEDOMETER.

Application filed February 16, 1921. Serial No. 445,484.

My invention relates to that class of de vices known as speedometers, and more particularly to a device adapted for use on automobiles or the like for indicating the speed or rate of travel. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient, compact, durable, reliable, accurate, attractive, efiicient, and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. One of the objects of my invention is to furnish a speed indicating mechanism which shall be positive in its action and shall be accurate at all times for all speeds and under all conditions, being entirely unaffected by wear magnetism, weather conditions, or age. arious other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure l is a top plan view of my device;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 Figure i is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary'section taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. l.

In the preferred embodiment of my in vention as illustrated in the drawings, 1 represents a suitable frame which is adapted to support and carry the cooperating parts of the device, said frame being stationary and there being a casing of any suitable size, shape, and material, (not shown), for enclosing the parts and preferably having suitable apertures therein in which windows or the like may be arranged to view the various parts of the mechanism, particularly the speed indicating dial. The frame in the preferred embodiment shown, comprises a wall 2 having a lateral 3 secured thereto at one end and having a pair of opposite laterally extending parts 4 and 5 secured thereto for supporting the various parts as hereinafter described, said part 5 having a portion 5 bent at an angle.

lifounted upon the wall 2 above the lat oral a, is a lateral supporting member 6, said supporting member being yoke shaped and having a pair of laterally extending, parallel spaced arms 7 and 8 joined by a spacer portion 9, the ends of said arms 7 and 8 having bearings 10 and 11 ther in, one hearing, as shown 11, being preferably adjustable. A drive shaft 12, preferably in alignment with the bearings 10 and 11 and arranged to be connected to any source of rotary driving parts, such as one of the wheels of a vehicle or drive shaft, not shown, is rotatably mounted in said frame so that one end of the shaft extends therein between the arms 3 and 4. (Figure 4), anti-friction members 13 are arranged adjacent one end of the shaft in the lateral support l. Secured to the end of the shaft in any suitable orpreferred manner is. an air impeller or fan 1%, comprising a flat disk portion 15 and a series of upturned blades or vanes 16 formed thereon, I

(Figures 3 and 4t), said blades being of a suitable form and proportion and being preferably forwardly extending, relative to the direction of rotation, as indicated by the arrows in the drawin s, Figures 4: and so that when the shaft is rotated the blades will drive the air before them and create an air pressure capable of driving a cooperating rotatably mounted member.

The cooperating driven member consists of a cupshaped indicator dial 1'7 mounted between the arms 4: and 6 of the frame, said member being of any suitable material preferably light in Weight, such as aluminum or the like, and having an annular flange 18 on the exterior of which are gradations and a. flat portion 19, there being a series of circumferentially arranged and preferably radially extending vanes or blades 20 thereon, said vanes being preferably struck up out of the metal and extending inwardly and rearwardly of the flat portion of the dial plate in a direction trailing the direction of the shaft rotation so that the vanes 16 and 20 extend in substantially opposite directions, as shown in Fi ure 5. Apertures 21 are formed between adjacent vanes 20 so that the air directed between said vanes may be expelled therethrough and cause the indi *ator to be actuated in the same manner as a turb ne wheel. Arranged on the exterier of t aniniiar flange of the indicator is a number scale divisions or marks inth of travel, said scale bee speed ing adapted to cooperate with a pointer 22 or the eq -iialent which may be mounted on a static rv part of he frame as for instzuice on the arm -l-.

The frame or wail men'iber 1 is suitably cut away or recessed as at 23 so that the indicator dial fits therein, said indicator dial being mounted at its center 2- on a trunnion or axle 25, said axle being rotatably journaled at its ends in the bearings l and 11. The central portion 2% of the dish joined or bridged to the fiat or top portion thereof by a strip 26 which also acts a stop to limit the turning move ment of the disk in either direction when said strip abuts against the part 9 oi the stationary support 6.

it no retarding were provided the i dicator dial. would rotate at the same speed as the fan, allowing "for a slight ditterence in their weights and other corrections, but I have prevented this and cause the indicator to be retarded and to turn at a speed slower than the speed of the fan so that one is enabled to read the speed indications on the dial. I have provided a coil spring 27 concentrically about the axle 25, said spring having one end 27 secured to one end of the axle so as to be rotatable therewith and preferably having its other end free. iin arm 28 is pivoted to the support 5 between bearings 29 and has a suitably enlarged outer end 30 serving as a counterbalance, the inner or free end of the arm being transversely bent so as to extend interiorly of the dial disk and having a coilengaging projection 31. at its end, said coilengaging projection comprising a pin or any other suitable means for the purpose, said projection bearing upon the coils and causing the arm 28 to pivot as the spring 27 is rotated, the spring coils acting as a resilient, slightly yieldable cam in raising or lowering the arm 28 about its pivot 29. This retards the rotation of the indicator wheel, so the same will not continuously spin or rotate with the fan. A leaf spring or the like 32, having one of its ends fixed to a bar 33 arranged transversely of the wall 1, and having its other end pressing against the arm 28 so as to yieldably force it to bear on the spring 27, maintains the arn 28 in engagement with the coils of the springs 27, and tends to cause the indicator dial to return to its zero or initial position. Adjusting screws 34 are arranged on the arm 33, said screws being adapted to engage the spring 32 so as to increase or decrease its pressure on the arm 28, as

desired, said adjustment varying the pressure of the arm upon the sprlng cam 27, and thereby controlling the retarding as deractice, I have found that the re silient cam 27 coacts with the spring 32 to damp the movements of the member 17 so thatwhen the device in which the improved speedometer is mounted passes over a rough roadway the member 1 7 will not vibrate back and forth.

The operation of the device ispositive, cz-zceedingly simple, and the scale reading is always correct. When the driving shaft ca "yin'g the tan is rotated, it impels the air a nnst the vanes of the indicator disk, the nular flange of the indicator disk containing and aiding in directing the air against the disk vanes. The dial being mounted independently of the fan has a i torque exerted upon it by the turbine action of the air being forced against it and is caused to turn, said turning being against the resistant pressure of the arm 28. and its cooperating spring 82-, the degree of turnbeing proportionate to the torque enc-ited, which in turn is proportionate to the air pressure caused by the tan due to the rotational. speed of the drive shaft. here the speedometer is to be used in connection with a route indicator, such as isdescribed in my copending application, a worm gear 46 or the equivalent may be arranged to drive or control the route indicator mechanism.

Having thus described my invention it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself? to the exact form, arrangement, construction, and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device ofthe kind described and in combination, a rotatably mounted drive shaft, :1 rotatably mounted speed indicator, and means therebetween whereby said indicator may be moved in the same direction of rotation as said shaft, said means comprising aseries 01" air directing blades on. said shaft, a series of impeller vanes arranged on said indicator, a resilient cam on said indicator, and means for yieldingly contacting with said cam and tending to prevent the tree rotation of said indicator.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a rotatably mounted drive shaft. an aide rotatably mounted independent of said shaft, 2. speed indicator on said axle and rotatable therewith, and means therebetween whereby said indicator may be moved in the same direction of rotation as said shaft, said means comprising a series of air directing blades on said shaft, a series of impeller vanes arranged on said indicator, a coil spring acting as a resilient cam on said indicator, and means for yieldingly contacting with said resilient cam and tending to prevent the free rotation of said indiester.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a rotary drive means, a rotary driven indicator dial, means whereby air is impelled by said driving means to drive said dial, and a resilient cam rotatable with the dial and engageable with a relatively stationary arm, tending to return said indicator dial to its normal position.

4:. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a supporting frame, driving means rotatably mounted thereon, a speed indicator rotatably mounted on said frame, means whereby air is impelled by saic driving means to drive said indicator, a resilient cam on said indicator, an arm on said frame operatively engaging the working face of said cam, resilient means for yieldingly holding said arm in engagement with said cam, and means for adjusting the engagement of said resilient means.

5. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a supporting frame, a driving means rotatably mounted thereon, a speed indicator rotatably mounted on said frame, means whereby air is impelled by said driving means to drive said indicator, a resilient cam on said indicator, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end operatively engaging the working face of said cam, resilient means for yieldingly holding said arm in engagement with said cam, and means for adjusting the en gagement of said resilient means.

6. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a supporting frame, a drive shaft having an end rotatably mounted therein, a speed indicator disk in alignment with said drive shaft and mounted in said frame, means between said shaft and disk whereby said disk is driven by air impelled by the rotation of-said drive shaft, and means for restraining the free rotary move- 'ment of said disk, said means comprising a coil spring carried by said disk and retatable therewith, a lever arm pivot-ally carried by said frame and having an end engageable with the coils of said spring and bearing thereon, and pressure means bearing on said arm whereby it may be maintained against the coils of said spring.

7. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a supporting frame, a drive shaft having an end rotatably mounted therein, a speed indicator disk in alignment with said drive shaft and mounted in said frame, means between said shaft and disk whereby said disk is driven by air impelled by the rotation of said drive shaft, and means for restraining the free rotary movement of said shaft, said means comprising a coil spring carried by said disk and rotatable therewith, a lever arm pivotally carried by said frame and having an end engageable with the coils of said spring and bearing thereon, yieldable pressure means for maintaining said arm against said coils and adjusting means for controlling sai pressure.

8. In a device of the kind described and in combination, drive means, a speed indicator mounted independently thereof, means on said drive means and spaced from said indicator whereby a fluid is impelled against said indicator to actuate it, a cam, and means adapted to slidably engage the cam to retrieve the indicator to its normal zero position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THEODORE J. SMULSKI. 

